Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 04 March 2017

:: National ::

Dalai Lama’s Arunachal visit increases tension between India and China

• The China-India border dispute came into sharp focus after the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned New Delhi not to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh — the State which is at the heart of the Sino-Indian dispute in the eastern sector.

• China’s sharp response against the visit by the Tibetan leader in exile followed a call by a former Chinese boundary negotiator, who stressed that if the two sides managed to overcome their differences in the eastern sector.

• “We have expressed concerns to the India, urged India to stick to its political commitments and abide by important consensus the two sides have reached on the boundary question, refrain from actions that might complicate the issue” China said

• Also said that India should not provide a platform to the Dalai clique and protect the sound and stable development of the Sino-India relations.”

Centre delay imposing Ecological Sensitive Area restrictions

• The Environment Ministry has dithered, for the second time in three years, from bringing into force a law that will make about 56,825 sqkm of the ecologically-rich Western Ghats out of bounds for industrial development.

• On February 27, the government resuscitated a draft notification that was first published in March 2014 that specified how much land in various coastal States encompassing the Western Ghats would be earmarked as practically-inviolate.

• Because it wasn’t made into a final law — thanks to objections from States — this lapsed in a year and a half and on September 2015, a fresh draft notification with the same numbers was reintroduced. This too would expire on March 4.

• The reiterated February notification — open to public comment for 60 days — allows the Centre to create an Ecological Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats (WG), a 1,500 km, ecologically-rich strip along the west coast spanning Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

• Regions declared as the ESA will not be allowed to host mining and quarrying projects and building thermal power plants.

• Ever since Madhav Gadgil recommended in 2011 that all of the Western Ghats be declared as the ESA — with only limited development allowed in graded zones— States have forced the Centre to consistently delay imposing the ESA restrictions.

• Kerala managed to get this down to about 56,825 sqkm after widespread protests and an all-party resolution in the State forced the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to exclude 3,117 sqkm of settlements and agricultural land in the State from the ESA.

• Union Environment Minister Anil Dave is expected to have fresh meetings with States on the issue next month.

• Another source familiar with the matter said a draft notification allowed the government 545 days to decide on taking a final call.

India and South East Asian countries wants discussion on an ‘Access to Medicines’ report (Register and Login to read Full News)

SC expressed grave concern on farmers suicide (Register and Login to read Full News)

:: International ::

UN criticised Sri Lanka’s slow progress in addressing wartime crimes

• Reports of abuses including torture remain widespread in Sri Lanka eight years after the end of a decades-long civil war, the UN said, criticising the government’s slow progress in addressing wartime crimes.

• Sri Lanka’s President MaithripalaSirisena swept to power two years ago promising justice for the minority Tamil community and a full investigation into alleged atrocities committed under the leadership of his predecessor.

• But UN rights chief ZeidRa’ad Al Hussein said the island had made “worryingly slow” progress in addressing its wartime past, warning this could threaten lasting peace and stability.

• It pointed to the island’s own Human Rights Commission’s acknowledgement of complaints illustrating the “routine use of torture by the police throughout the country as a means of interrogation and investigation”.

• At least 1,00,000 people died in the conflict between Tamil separatists and government forces that ended in 2009.

• The UN has been pushing for a special court to investigate allegations that government forces killed up to 40,000 Tamil civilians in the final months of fighting.

• Mr. Sirisena had agreed to a UN Human Rights Council resolution in October 2015 which called for special tribunals and reparations for victims and gave Sri Lanka 18 months to establish credible investigations.

• But the deadline lapsed without those commitments being met. The UN said coalition politics in the unity government Mr. Sirisena formed after ousting former strongman leader MahindaRajapaksa were likely to blame for the slow pace of progress.

• In its report, the UN urged the government to prioritise the return of private land occupied by the military, adopt laws allowing the creation of a hybrid court, and invite the UN rights office to establish a presence in the country.

:: Business and Economy ::

Australia wants India to become major buyer of its cotton

• Australia, the fifth-largest exporter of cotton, is looking at India to emerge as a consistent and major buyer of the commodity.

• An eight-member delegation representing the Australian Cotton Shippers’ Association held meetings in Ludhiana, Mumbai, and Coimbatore between February 27 and March 3.

• Australia has close to 1,200 cotton growers and can supply even small quantities to India. China purchased more than 30% of Australia’s cotton production last year. However, this was lower than its usual purchase.

• Indian textile mills can use Australian cotton as a blend to produce high-value garments. The area under cotton production was increasing in Australia, Mr. McIntyre said.

• Australia’s output was limited until last year. India is the largest producer and consumer of cotton globally.

Services sector saw expansion in Feb (Register and Login to read Full News)

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